Hubbell, Finkenauer, Axne, Scholten Win in Iowa Democrat Primary

Iowa Democrats saw record turnout for their primary on Tuesday that saw hotly contested races for Governor, Secretary of State, and in Iowa’s 1st, 3rd, and 4th Congressional Districts.

For the most part, the races were not close

Des Moines businessman Fred Hubbell had a decisive victory in the gubernatorial primary to challenge Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. Establishment Democrats started to coalesce around his campaign after State Senator Nate Boulton (D-Des Moines) exited the race after being accused of sexual misconduct.

Abby Finkenauer dominated in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District primary and will challenge Congressman Rod Blum. Cindy Axne convincingly secured the Democratic nomination in Iowa 3rd Congressional District and will face Congressman David Young. J.D. Scholten carried Iowa’s 4th Congressional District primary and has the daunting task of running against Congressman Steve King who despite controversial tweets and statements in the press is very popular in the heavily Republican district.

Deidre DeJear edged out two-time Congressional candidate Jim Mowrer in the Democrat primary for Iowa Secretary of State. Mowrer ran strong in Iowa’s 3rd and 4th Congressional Districts were he was known for his Congressional campaigns. DeJear, however, outperformed Mower by wider margins in Linn, Black Hawk, Johnson, and Scott Counties than Mower outperformed DeJear in Polk, Pottawattamie, and Story Counties. DeJear will face Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate.

Here are the unofficial results for the contested Democrat primaries:

Iowa 1st Congressional District

Abby Finkenauer – 66.90% (29,525)

Thomas Heckroth – 19.18% (8,467)

Courtney L. Rowe – 7.52% (3,320)

George Ramsey – 6.31% (2,786)

Iowa 3rd Congressional District

Cindy Axne – 57.91% (32,070)

Eddie J. Mauro – 26.33% (14,582)

Pete D’Alessandro – 15.52% (8,595)

Iowa 4th Congressional District

J.D. Scholten – 51.22% (14,514)

Leann Jacobsen – 31.95% (9,055)

John Paschen – 16.73% (4,741)

Governor

Fred Hubbell – 55.52% (98,013)

Cathy Glasson – 20.47% (36,131)

John Norris – 11.44% (20,200)

Andrea Andy McGuire – 5.24% (9,257)

Nate Boulton – 5.07% (8,944) – dropped out of the race.

Ross Wilburn – 2.16% (3,807)

Secretary of State

Deidre DeJear – 51.09% (80,990)

Jim Mowrer – 48.73% (77,258)

Iowa Senate District 21

Claire Celsi – 57.85% (5,095)

Connie Ryan – 41.87% (3,688)

Iowa Senate District 37

Zach Wahls – 59.60% (3,901)

Janice Weiner – 34.82 (2,279)

Eric Dirth – 2.89% (189)

Imad Youssif – 2.58% (169)

Iowa Senate District 41

Mary S. Stewart – 58.31% (2,909)

Ed Malloy – 41.55% (2,073)

Iowa House District 28

Ann M. Fields – 82.22% (1,017)

Zachary Pendroy – 17.70% (219)

Iowa House District 30

Kent A. Balduchi – 61.04% (1,211)

Dan Nieland – 38.56% (765)

Iowa House District 31

Rick L. Olson – 63.63% (1,361)

Tiffany Allison – 22.02% (471)

Heather A. Ryan – 14.21% (304)

Iowa House District 38

Heather Matson – 80.21% (1,877)

Reyma McCoy McDeid – 19.57% (458)

Iowa House District 56

Lori Egan – 67.45% (744)

Andy Kelleher – 32.37% (357)

Iowa House District 57

Nancy Fett – 51.07% (1,173)

Leo Gansen – 48.93% (1,124)

Iowa House District 68

Molly Donahue – 69.97% (1,552)

Scott Foens – 29.85% (662)

Iowa House District 72

Mindy Benson – 35.15% (386)

David Degner – 34.79% (382)

Joycelyn George – 17.49% (192)

John William Anderson – 12.02% (132)

Iowa House District 75

Paula Denison – 65.51% (682)

Dennis R. Mathahs – 22.77% (237)

Doris A. Guilford – 11.72% (122)

Iowa House District 83

Jeff Kurtz – 56.54% (904)

Bob Morawitz – 34.15% (546)

Michael Hardy – 9.13% (146)

Iowa House District 88

Lanny Hillyard – 68.36% (620)

Noah Canady – 31.42% (285)

Iowa House District 99

Shane Vander Hart is the founder and editor-in-chief of Caffeinated Thoughts. He is also the President of 4:15 Communications, LLC, a social media & communications consulting/management firm. Prior to this Shane spent 20 years in youth ministry serving in church, parachurch, and school settings. He has also served as an interim pastor and is a sought-after speaker and pulpit fill-in. Shane has been married to his wife Cheryl since 1993 and they have three kids. Shane and his family reside near Des Moines, IA.